The collection of the Urazovo Local History Museum contains a photograph of the Soviet aircraft designer Alexey Shcherbakov. He made a great contribution to the study and development of airspace: under his leadership, the Shche-2 military transport aircraft has been developed.
Alexey Shcherbakov was born in the Urazovo settlement on March 23, 1901. In 1918, at the age of 17, he graduated from the men’s gymnasium. After that Shcherbakov got a job as an electrician for the Council of National Economy. From 1922 to 1929 he studied at the Kharkov Technological Institute, where he received the specialty of mechanical engineer, aircraft designer. During his studies, Shcherbakov worked as a draftsman, designer of the Kharkov plant No. 135.
In the spring of 1934, Alexey Shcherbakov participated in the All-Union conference on the study of the stratosphere. At that time, he worked in the design bureau under the direction of Konstantin Kalinin. At this conference, Shcherbakov met Sergey Korolev, Sergey Vavilov and Mikhail Tikhonravov, and also studied the stratospheric balloon gondola, built by the team of Vladimir Chizhevsky. Alexey Shcherbakov put forward an idea that stratospheric balloons are not the only way to climb to great heights and even a glider can cope with this task. Boris Goroshchenko, a professor at the Zhukovsky Military Engineering Academy, approved Shcherbakov’s plan, and the work began.
The first flights prompted the researchers to adjust the original plans. Calculations showed that a system of three links is required — an airplane and two gliders, the so-called ‘Shcherbakov train’. Such a system promised a lifting height of 20 thousand meters, which exceeded the capabilities of the human body. The desire to overcome the physiological barrier prompted Shcherbakov to create a sealed cabin, which was then equipped with famous fighters: I-15, I-153, MiG-1, Yak-7B, La-5.
Alexey Shcherbakov was born in the Urazovo settlement on March 23, 1901. In 1918, at the age of 17, he graduated from the men’s gymnasium. After that Shcherbakov got a job as an electrician for the Council of National Economy. From 1922 to 1929 he studied at the Kharkov Technological Institute, where he received the specialty of mechanical engineer, aircraft designer. During his studies, Shcherbakov worked as a draftsman, designer of the Kharkov plant No. 135.
In the spring of 1934, Alexey Shcherbakov participated in the All-Union conference on the study of the stratosphere. At that time, he worked in the design bureau under the direction of Konstantin Kalinin. At this conference, Shcherbakov met Sergey Korolev, Sergey Vavilov and Mikhail Tikhonravov, and also studied the stratospheric balloon gondola, built by the team of Vladimir Chizhevsky. Alexey Shcherbakov put forward an idea that stratospheric balloons are not the only way to climb to great heights and even a glider can cope with this task. Boris Goroshchenko, a professor at the Zhukovsky Military Engineering Academy, approved Shcherbakov’s plan, and the work began.
The first flights prompted the researchers to adjust the original plans. Calculations showed that a system of three links is required — an airplane and two gliders, the so-called ‘Shcherbakov train’. Such a system promised a lifting height of 20 thousand meters, which exceeded the capabilities of the human body. The desire to overcome the physiological barrier prompted Shcherbakov to create a sealed cabin, which was then equipped with famous fighters: I-15, I-153, MiG-1, Yak-7B, La-5.
